Funeral and burial apparatus



R. F. MCCAMPB'ILLY G. H. SCOTT G. SMITH. FUNERAL lA ND BURIAL APPARATUS.

AP'PLlcAT'l'bN FILED SEPLH. |916. 1,375,793. Patented @12269 )19211.

I?.v F. IVICCAIVIPBELL, G. H. SCOTT AND G. Q. SMITH. FUNERAL AND BURIAL APPARATUS.

m APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I I I9I6. LS 5.793.

Patented Apr. 26, IIIZL 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

limi/rf:

' mF.v MCCAMPBELL, AG.- H'. SCOTT-AND G'. SMITH. FUNERAL AND BURIAL APPARATUS.

Y APPLICATIAON'FILED SEPT. H, 1916. 1,375,?98'.

Patented Apr. 26, 192m.

R. F. MCCAIVIPBELL, G. H.4SC0TT AND G. O. SMITH.

, FUNERAL ANU BURIAL APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION VFILEU SEPT. II. I9I6. 1,375,793B

PAIAIIIAIII Apr; 26,19%.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. 7 I 2 2z 0A a9 Q5 A3@ 557 f; 25 Q2 Ilf'f 26 y y Y i; Y Y I. I I Q4 ZZ Z j A" d x L L Z u Y. L I J A 20I /25 TWL/Z (QQ 25 5/9 al@ Q0 ROY F. MCGAMPBELL, GEGRGE H. SCOTT, AND GEORGE Q. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL LPLARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, lllll..

Application filed September 1l, 1916. Sera1 No. llfll.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, ROY F. MCCAMEBELL, GEORGE il. Score, and GEORGE Q. Sirirri, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi lllinois, have invented certain new and usei'ul Improvements in Funeral and Eurial Apparatus, ot which the following is a speciication,

rl`his invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the handling ot' the dead prior to and during interment.

Custom demands that a more or less ornate casket be provided for the reception ot the body, entailing considerable expense which, once the casket is deposited in the grave, becomes a total loss so tar as the protective. function of the casket is concerned. dannacturers of caslrets sacrifice all other considerations to appearance and the usual result is a receptacle Which rapidly disintegrates when subjected to the conditions orn the grave. Furthermore, While mechanical devices have heretofore been employed to lower the casket into the grave thei accompanied with certain disadi ,i such for example as the ditiiculty ot' releasing' the ca et from and reivinding the ipporting means therefor.

It is an object of our invention to provide a casket temporarily maintained Within an outer shell which may he ornamented in any desirable manner and Which supports means tor lowering the casiret into the grave.

rfi further object of our invention is the provision in the above-described structure ot means for automatically releasing and rewinding'the lowering means when the casket reaches its final resting place in the grave.

further object oi our invention is the provision of means whereby relatives and friends of the deceased are prevented from seeing the descent ot the casket into the grave and the grave is closed continuously during interment.

A further object of our invention is the provision of means whereby the body may be deposited in a casket, hernietically sealed it desired, substantial in construction, and Without unnecessary ornamentation and therefore relatively inexpensive, which, however, by reason of its temporary inclosure in an outer ornainented shell, is adapted to satisfy the dictates of custom.

A still further object of our invention is the provision ot an outer shell adapted to inclose a casket and constructed to permit variation oi' the decorative eilect.

Further objects and advantages or" our invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specincation when read in connection With the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in Which- Figure l is a longitudinal section through a grave containing the rough box and with the casket and inclosing shell disposed thereabove;

Fig. 2 is a. section on the line @#42 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 oi Fig. l;

nig. i is an enlarged detail in section through one end of the casket and inclosing shell; l

Fig. 5 is a section on the line ot Fig. e;

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the automatically releasable connections between the casket and the supporting cables;

Fig. 7 is a detail in section illustrating the automatically releasable connections with the parts in locking position;

Fig. 8 is a similar `vierT illustrating the releasing position ot the parts;

Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective of the traine supporting the cover ot the outer shell;

Fig. l0 is detail in perspective ot the traine oi tl e outer shell;

Fig. ll is an elevation, partially in section or" a portion oi the trame illustrated in Fig "2 is a lcnoitudinal section through th means rpor coni olling the lowering ot e the caslretg and Fig. 13 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in l2 with the inclosing casino' in section.

neterring to the drawing', l indicates the- Which may, by reason of the smaller dimensions ol the casket employed, be seinewhat smaller than is usual. Nithin the grave is disposed a rough box 2 having a plurality of guides 3 to center the casket as it descends therein. Above the grave. a green-board 1l is arranged having an opening suiicient to permit the passage of the casket therethrough which is normally closed by a door 5 hinged to the green board at 6 and normally biased to closed position by springs 7 The grave When once prepared is closed by the green-board 4 and its Vdoor 5 until the former is finally removed to permit filling of the grave.

l'Ve contemplate the replacement of caskets of the usual form by an unornamented casket 6 as illustrated in the drawing, the details of one form of the casket being shown in Figs. 4 and 5. rlhe casket 6 may be an inexpensive wooden box, especially where the body is to be cremated, or it may be constructed of wood of a more expensive character but for interment it is preferably of metal. ln Figs. 4 and 5 we illustrate a caslret constructed of sheet metal 7 between the layers of which a suitable filling 8 is disposed, the filling being adapted to stiifen the structure. A metal cover 9 closes the casket 6, being secured thereto by bolts 10. A gasket 11 of suitable material is preferably disposed between the edges of the cover 9 and the body of the caslret (3 and the cover 9 may be soldered at 12 to the body of the casket 6 to insure that the latter is hermetically sealed.

lnclosing the casket 6 is a shell including a frame preferably constructed of tubular members 13 between which at intervals wood blocks 14 are disposed to provide a base to which the handles may be secured. Straps 15 disposed in grooves in the blocks 14 and embracing opposite members 13 securely hold the blocks in position. r1`he blocks strengthen the frame. Secured to the blocks 14 are sheet metal members 16 forming the inner lining of the shell and bent adjacent the upper and lower edges of the frame (Fig. 4) to form grooves 17 adapted to re'- ceive the flanges 18 of plates 19 which forn the outer or decorative portion of the shell. Obviously the decorative design of the plates 19 may be Widely varied and, the plates 19 being interchangeable, the appearance of the shell may be changed to conform to individual ideas, it being understood that the undertaker may be furnished by the manufacturer with a plurality of plates 19 of different design.

rlhe upper portion or cover of the shell includes a frame constructed of tubular members 20, and a decorative sheet metal plate 21 supported on this frame. rlhe cover is preferably hingedly connected to the body of the shell although obviously no hinges are necessary. rl`he top 22 of the cover is connected by hinges 23 to the plate 21 so that access may be readily had to the mechanism presently to be described.

A. casing 23 is supported by the tubular members of the cover frame and within this casing` the mechanism for controlling the lowering of the casket 6 is disposed. This mechanism comprises a frame 24 in which a main shaft 25 is journaled. Loosely mounted on the shaft 25 is a sleeve 26 having a drum 27 secured thereto, the

surface of the drum being divided by a flange 28 into two sections to receive, respectively, the cables 28 and 29 leading to opposite ends of the shell. A ratchet 30 is secured to the sleeve 26 and engages a pawl 31 70 mounted on a worm gear 32 which is fast to the shaft 25. The relation of the pawl 31 and ratchet 30 is such that when the cables 28 and 29 are unwouncL from the drum 27 the worm gear 32 will be rotated but when 7 the drum 2T is moved in the opposite direction to rewind the cables it rotates freely with respect to the worm gear 32. The rewinding of thelcables 28 and 29 is accomplished by a spring 33 disposed about a shaft 34 Tvhich is journaled in the frame 24 and in a bracket 35 mounted thereon. The spring 33 is disposed between the frame 24 and a gear 36 fast to the shaft 34 and is connected at one end to the frame 24 and at the other to the shaft 34. rlhe gear 36 meshes with a pinion 3T secured to the sleeve 26 and consequently when the drum 27 is rotated 'by the unwinding of the cables the spring 33 is wound. l/Vhen the cables are released in the mamier presently to be described the drum 2T will be rotated in a reverse direction to rewind the cables. rlhe worm gear 32 meshes with worin 38 'on the shaft 39 which in turn meshes with a worm 40 on a 9 shaft 41 carrying a gear 42 which meshes with a pinion 43 on the governor shaft 44. il ball governor 45 of usual construction is supported on the shaft 44 and is connected to a brake-dish 46 adapted to engage a stop 47 100 at the end of a screw 48 threadedly mounted in the frame 24. The screw 43 is provided with suitable operating means 49 disposed beneath an openin-O' 50 in the top 22'of the cover so that the screw may be readily opern ated to loclr or release the mechanism as desired. jWhen the mechanism is in opera tion the speed at which the drum 2.7 is allowed to rotate is controlled by the governor 45. rlhe shaft 25 is provided with a 110 slot 51 in its end beneath an opening 52 in the top 22 of the cover so that by insertion of a suitable operating member the shaft 25 may be rotated to rewind the cables 28 and 29 should 'the spring 33 fail to perform its 115 function. The shaft 39 projects beyond the casing 23 and is similarly grovidedr with a slot 53 adapted to receive a suitable operatmeiiber whereby the worm and the drum '27 may be rotated to tension the 12.0 cables 23 and prior to lowering the casket 6. in this instance power is applied to the shaft 39 because of the weight on the cables 28 and 29 which would render it diliicult to rotate the shaft 25 directly.

The cables 28 and 29 ente-nd over rollers 4 supported on the end members 20 of the cover frame and downwardly within the shell. At their ends the cables 23 and are provided with blocks 55 having sloping 130 faces 56 and complementary blocks 57 having sloping faces 58 are secured to the ends of the casket 6. The blocks 55 and 5T are provided withA registering openings 59 and 6G adapted to receive pins 6l trictionally engaged by members 62 at the ends ot springs 63 disposed in suitable sockets in the blocks 57. Fins 6a are loosely held within the openings 59 and depend from the blocks fibutments 65 are arranged in the bottom of the rough box 2 in pdsitioii to be engaged by the pins 6d when the casket has been seated within the rough bei; The

ping 6d are lifted sutiiciently 'to raise the pins 6l troni engagement with the blocks 55 so that the blocks 55 and 57 are no longer connected and owing 'to the sloping faces and 5.7 the tension oi the springV on the cables 26 and 2,9 trees the bl cks from the blocks 57 and nermits thev carnes to 'be rewound leaving the casket 6 in the rough boi; 2.

To support the casket 6 within the shell we provide a pair o' stiriups 66 pivot-ally mounted in the shell and adapted to be normally positioned as indicated in 'ull lines in Fig. d. Obviously before the casket be lowered the stirrups 66 must be reni-oven and this may be accomplished by means ot sliding members 6l' supported on the greenboard el and provided with hooked ends 66 adapted to engage projections 69 on the stirrups 66. Ey operatingl the sliding men bers 6'? the stirrups may be withdrawn to the position indicated in dotted lines in llig. d. Eeitorefwithdrawal oi the stirrups 66 the cables 28 and 2Q are tensioned by rotating the shaft 39 to relieve the stirrups 66 ot the weight of the casket 6. This may be done at the grave or prior to removal of the casket and iii-closing shell troni the place where the funeral services are. held.

The mode oit operation ot our invention will be readily understood 'from the toll-or. ing briegt description thereof. The body is placed in the casket 6 which is disposed within the shell and is supported on the stirrups e6. in which position it is securely held. fit the grave the shell and casket are arranged on the green boar@ with 'the stirrups resting the sliding members 6l', then the cables 28 and 29 are tensioned to raise the cas ret 6 slightly by operating the shitt 39 after which the stirruosa 66 are withdrawn. rlhe operator thenmanipulates the 46 to release the brake and the casket 6 descends gradually under the control ot the governor Ll5 passing the door 5 which opens automatically and closes immediately after the casket has passed. lhen the casket reaches and seats itselia in the rough boi; 2 the cables 2S and 29 are automatically released by engagement of the pins 6ft with the blocks 65 and are rewound by the spring 33. The shell may then be removed and interment other than the filling of the grave is complete.

It will be noted that throughout Ythe operation the grave is concealed, being closed by the green-board a and the door 5 after removal of the shell. Consequently the shock to the relatives and friends which usually accompanies the lowering of the casket into the grave is materially lessened. Because the casket is always concealed it may be sturdily constructed of materials best adapted to give protection to the body and no ein pense need be wasted on unnecessary decoration. All of the decoration required by custom is applied to the shell which is used repeatedly and consequently the expense which any individual is required to bear may be materially reduced` Tfurthermore the casket 6 need not be as large as caskets of the usual type, it being our intention that the shell be substantially of the size ot caskets now commonly used. rlie casket is ot sufficient size to accommodate the body and the grave and rough box may be smaller than is now usual. Considerable time is saved at tl e grave and the work oi lowering the casket is accomplished much more readily tlian possible with devices now known and used. llilhere lowering devices are now used it is customary to send them to the grave before the Juiieral arrives and an assistant must necessarily accompany the ap paratus to see that it is in proper working condition, whereas with our apparatus the lowering means is entirely within the shell and always under the supervision ot the person conducting the funeral.

lt will be apparent that various changes may be made in the Jform, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any ot its material advantages, the torni hereinbetore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereol.

We claim:

l. In an apparatus ot the character described, the combination ot a shell open at the bottom and having a hollow cover, a casket supported within said shell, il irible lowering means connected to the ends ot the casket, and means supported within said cover for controlling the lowering means.

2. ln an apparatus ot the character described, the combination o' a shell, a casket, a pair ,oi stirrups pivotally mounted in said shell to support the casket within the shell, and means for swinging said stirrups outwardly from beneath the casket.

3. ln an apparatus oit the character cescribed, the combination of a shell, a casket, a pair ot stirrups pivotally suspended from said shell to support the casket within the shell, and sliding members operable from without the shell and engaging the stirrups to swing them from beneath the casket.

CII

4L. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination or" a shell comprising a skeleton frame and including a movable cover portion, a covering for the sides, ends and top of said frame, a casket, means for supporting the casket within the shell, ileXible lowering means connected to the casket and engaged with said frame, and means supported within the cover portion for controlling said lowering mea-ns.

5. In an appaartus of the character described, an open bottom shell comprising a skeleton frame, an inner lining for said frame, an outer lining for the frame separate from said inner lining and in engagement therewith, and a cover.

6. ln an apparatus oi' the character described, an open bottom shell comprising a skeleton frame, a skeleton top for said frame, metal members secured to the traine forming an inner lining therefor, metal plates separate from the inner lining and forming a decorative facing for the trame, and a decorative covering for said top.

7. ln an apparatus oi the character described, the combination or an open bottom shell, a casket supported within the shell, blocks on the end of the casket, flexible low ering means, blocks on the ends of said ilexible lowering means, said blocks having oppositely disposed inclined faces and alined openings, pins yieldingly mounted in the openings inthe blocks on the casket and engaging the openings in the blocks on the lowering means, and means for disengaging said pins from the blocks on the lowering means when the casket has reached the limit of its lowering movement.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casket, a shell surrounding said casket, cables connected to said casket, a hollow cover for said shell, means supported within said cover to gradually pay out said cables whereby said caset is lowered, and means to automatically release said cables from said casket when the latter has reached the limit or its downward travel.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casket, a shell surrounding said casket, cables connected to said casket,a hollow cover for said shell, means supported within said cover to grad ually pay out said cables whereby said casket is lowered, means to automatically release said cables from said casket when the latter has reached the limit of its downward travel, and means for automatically rewinding said cables.

l0. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casket, means for lowering said casket, and' means for rem leasing said lowering means from said casket when the latter reaches the limit of its downward travel, including complementary blocks secured respectively to said casket and lowering means and provided with sloping faces, registering openings in said blocks, pins in said openings, and means for disengaging said pins from the blocks on said lowering means.

ll. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination or a casket, a rough box, means for lowering said casket into said rough box, and means for releasing said lowering means from said casket when the latter reaches the limit of its downward travel, includinoY complementary blocks secured respective y to said casket and lowering means and provided with sloping faces, registering openings in said blocks, pins in said openings connecting said blocks, pins loosely disposed in the openings in the blocks connected to said lowering means, and abutments in said rough box adapted to be engaged by said last-mentioned pins.

l2. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casket, and a shell surrounding said casket comprising a Jrame and separate plates forming the outer surface oi said shell.

ROY F. MCOAMPBELL. GEORGE H. SCOTT. GEORGE Q. SMTH.

Witnesses:

M. A. KIDDm ERNEST H. lluRcHANT. 

